Civil War Watermelon

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In 1865, the Confederacy surrendered to the United States of America. With the end of the Civil War came total emancipation for slaves. With their newfound freedom, the blacks endeavored to produce their own food and capital. Many found the watermelon to be the perfect crop; the fruit was cheap and easy to grow. In addition, watermelons were large and capable of providing a meal for any small family. In a way, the watermelon became a symbol of black independence and freedom; but white southerners were not pleased. Embittered by their recent defeat and loss of their “property”, white southerners used the watermelon against blacks. The ease of growing a watermelon was associated with laziness and the cost-effectiveness with peasantry. Minstrel shows, cartoons, and movies mocked blacks with a food source they had used to survive and advance in society. Like many others from that time, the watermelon stereotype is untrue. In truth, blacks consumption of watermelon was based on economics, not race. Watermelon was indeed cheap and cost effective (Ornelas and Kiple 303). Before the end of the Civil War, it was not uncommon for poor white families to grow and consume watermelon. It was not until the southern planters felt threatened by their former slaves newfound livelihood. Additionally, poor white people did not want to become…show more content…
Instead of believing that Black people like watermelon because they are lazy, people assume black people consume watermelon disproportionately. The opposite is true, a study by the USDA confirmed that whites “accounted for 62% of watermelon consumption”. In addition, the study concluded that Asians were “the largest, per capita, consumers of watermelon”. Even Hispanics come out on top of blacks in terms of watermelon consumption; the USDA reports that Hispanics, accounting for “11% of the total population, engaged in 13 % of watermelon
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